Ingredients
- 1 apple, diced (Honeycrisp or Gala)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 shots espresso (or 1/2 cup strong coffee)
- 1 1/2 cups oat milk
- Ice (for iced version)
- Spiced sugar, for rimming (optional)
Instructions
- Simmer the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the diced apple, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Simmer 8-10 minutes until syrupy, mashing the apple with a spoon. Strain for a silky syrup (or leave it rustic).
- Rim the glasses. Dip the rims in a little syrup, then in spiced sugar for the full coffee-shop effect. (Optional but worth it.)
- Build the latte. Add 2 tablespoons of apple crisp syrup to each glass. Pour in the hot espresso and stir to dissolve.
- Add the milk. For iced: fill with ice and pour over cold oat milk. For hot: pour over steamed oat milk.
- Finish. Stir well, taste, and add another spoonful of syrup if you like it sweeter. Serve immediately.
💡 Latte smarts
Strain the syrup for a silky, café-style latte — or leave it rustic with soft apple bits for extra cozy texture. Oat milk is the move here; it froths better and tastes creamier than any other non-dairy milk. The syrup keeps 2 weeks refrigerated, so batch it and thank yourself all fall.
Common questions
No espresso machine — what can I use?
Strong brewed coffee or instant espresso both work. Use 1/2 cup of double-strength coffee per latte.
What milk works best?
Oat milk — it's the creamiest non-dairy option and froths beautifully. Almond milk works but makes a thinner latte.
Can I make it hot instead of iced?
Yes — steam the oat milk and build the latte in a warm mug. Skip the ice, keep the spiced rim.
Can I make the syrup sugar-free?
Use a brown-sugar-style monk fruit blend 1:1. The simmer time stays the same.
Love this recipe?
Save it to your "Cozy Fall Recipes" board so it's always one click away when the craving hits.
📌 Pin it for later